Register now

Newsletter Subscription

Email

TemplerFX Trader for Linux

Introduction

Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. Linux systems are widely used in smartphones and server hardware. Many home PC users prefer it to MS Windows series.

In this article, you will find out how to work in MetaTrader 4 via one of the Linux versions - Ubuntu.

Installing Wine on Ubuntu

One of the Linux features is the absence of a unified distribution kit. Different groups of developers work on several Linux versions including Debian, Mint, Ubuntu, OpenSUSE, Gentoo, etc. In this article we will consider one of the most popular distribution kits - Ubuntu.

Wine is a free software that allows users of the Unix-based systems to run an application developed for the Microsoft Windows systems. Among all the Wine versions there is one for Ubuntu.

Note that Wine is not a fully stable application. Thus, some functions in the applications you start under it may work improperly or not work at all.

Preliminary setup should be performed before the installation. All applications are installed on Ubuntu from the packages, which are contained in repositories. The path to WineHQ PPA repository should be added to install Wine. Open Ubuntu Software Center and execute "Software Sources" command in "Edit" menu.

Click "Add" in the new window.

The following data should be specified in АРТ (Advanced Package Tool) line: ppa:ubuntu-wine/ppa. Click "Add Source". This completes the preliminary setup.

To install Wine, open its official website http://www.winehq.org, go to Downloads section and choose the distribution kit for Ubuntu. Click the appropriate link to install the latest Wine version. Currently, the latest stable version is Wine 1.4.1. You can also download beta version Wine 1.5.21, which has many improvements but may appear less stable. The system will prompt you to open the link via Ubuntu Software Center. Agree to that and the Software Center will prompt to start Wine installation:

Click "Install" and wait for the installation to complete. Once the installation is complete, it will already be possible to run Microsoft Windows executable files in Ubuntu.

Installing Wine from the Command Line

You can use command line (which is called "Terminal" in Ubuntu) to install Wine without using Ubuntu GUI.

Execute the following command to add WineHQ PPA repository, from which Wine will be installed:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-wine/ppa

After its execution, update APT package data using the following command:

sudo apt-get update

Upon its execution, you can start Wine installation. Execute the following command:

sudo apt-get install wine1.5

Wine v. 1.5 will be installed. After the execution, Wine is ready for use.

Starting MetaTrader 4

To start using MetaTrader 4, you should either download and install the installation file or copy the entire folder of the client terminal previously installed in Microsoft Windows system.

The system will automatically determine that you are trying to run a file designed for Microsoft Windows and will offer to open it with Wine. Select this option and click "OK". MetaTrader 4 installer will be launched. Complete all installation steps:

After installation is complete, you can start using MetaTrader 4 by running its terminal.exe file.

Another way to start using MetaTrader 4 in Ubuntu is copying the entire folder of the client terminal previously installed in Microsoft Windows:

After copying is complete, simply run terminal.exe file of MetaTrader 4 terminal. Wine will be used automatically to open the file. The screenshot below shows MetaTrader 4 terminal in Ubuntu system:

MetaTrader 4 Data Directory

Wine creates a virtual logical drive with necessary environment for installed programs. The default path of the installed terminal's data folder is as follows:

Home.winedrive_cProgram FilesMetaTrader 4

Conclusion

If we type "Linux" in MQL4.community search box, we will receive about 30 pages of results. This suggests that many users are interested in running MetaTrader 4 on this operating system, and it is necessary to have a unified source of information on the subject. There is only one article on the topic written by one of the community members and it is long out of date, as it was published in 2006.

In the present article, we described an easy way to run MetaTrader 4 under Ubuntu operating system. All basic terminal functions are available to traders. We hope that this article, or, to be more precise - the comments to it, will become a good place for accumulating useful information about running Meta Trader 4 on Linux OS series.

CONTACT US

RISK DISCLOSURE

Futures, CFDs and Forex are leveraged products with a high degree of risk to your capital. Such products may not be suitable for all investors and therefore you need fully understand the risks associated with them.